Introduction To Clean Sport

We all have a responsibility to protect clean sport. We need to maintain the utmost integrity within our sport, rounders. Cheating in any form undermines the spirit of sport and the efforts of clean athletes. Every top athlete will have experienced moments when they are vulnerable and not performing their best. How athletes deal with these moments can have a significant effect on their future sporting careers. As an athlete, athlete support personnel or sports administrator, you have anti-doping responsibilities that you need to be aware of. Here’s some essential information and useful links to get you started!

What you need to know

From 1 January 2024, tramadol will be prohibited in-competition.
Any athlete found to be using tramadol in-competition faces the prospect of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation and a ban from sport. UKAD has released some initial information around tramadol which can be found here.

  • UK Anti-Doping is the UK’s National Anti-Doping Organisation responsible for protecting clean sport in the UK, and we are governed by a worldwide agreed set of rules, protected globally by commitments from both governments and the sports movement
  • In anti-doping, athletes are responsible for their actions: including what they eat and drink. This is known as the principle of ‘strict liability’
  • Athletes can be tested any time, any place
  • Many athletes fail a test due to their supplements being contaminated, or because they didn’t know that social drugs are banned too. Medications prescribed to them by a doctor or bought over the counter at a pharmacy may also contain banned substances – it’s important to always check any medication you take via Global DRO first.

What that means for you

Failing to abide by the values of clean sport or the Anti-Doping Rules could mean severe consequences for your sporting future or career.
You have a responsibility to make sure that anything you eat and drink is free of any banned substances. Developing good clean sport habits now will help you in the future.

You need to fully understand the Anti-Doping Rules, the consequences of not behaving in line with these rules, and the values of clean sport.

What you should do

Tell – medical personnel, like your doctor, your coach and any other support personnel who work with you, that as an athlete you must operate in line with the Anti-Doping Rules.
Check – all medication should be checked to see if it contains any banned substances.
Ask – if you are unsure about any anti-doping matter then ‘ask’. You can keep yourself up to date with the latest news and alerts from UKAD so you are not at risk.
Adopt – a ‘Food First’ approach.

Where to go for further UKAD advice

Help us protect the clean athlete and the integrity of sport.

The World Anti-Doping Agency leads the collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport.

Raising the game for clean sport